The birthplace of the Enlightenment is often attributed to Europe, particularly France and England during the 17th and 18th centuries. This intellectual movement emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Key figures such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau challenged established ideas in philosophy, politics, and science. Their writings advocated for liberty, equality, and the separation of church and state, laying the groundwork for modern democratic thought and influencing the American Revolution and the French Revolution.